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Major American Wars

Second Continental Congress

On May 10, 1775, the Continental Congress met for the second time in Philadelphia. Unlike the circumstances during which the first Congress was held, the American Revolution had begun and American soldiers, known as “minutemen” had been killed. The delegates to the Second Continental Congress chose John Hancock, a wealthy Massachusetts merchant and chief financial contributor to the Sons of Liberty, as president. While Georgia refused to send a delegate to the First Continental Congress, they eventually agreed to send one this time.

The Second Continental Congress made decisions like an actual government. It authorized the production of paper money and named Benjamin Franklin Postmaster General (in charge of the Post Office). Most importantly, it authorized the creation of the Continental Army and George Washington as Commander-in-Chief. It would become the legislative branch of the war effort that would sign treaties, make declarations, and appoint ambassadors.

Some delegates of the Second Continental Congress still wished to avoid war, most notably John Dickinson from Pennsylvania. They sent a petition known as the Olive Branch Petition to Parliament to express their wish for peace and to appeal to the king to respect their rights. At the same time, the British had intercepted a letter from John Adams stating his belief that war was inevitable and that the United States should have already built up its military. Subsequently, the Olive Branch Petition was rejected by England, and King George hired 30,000 German troops to fight alongside the British in War against America.

On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved the measure to declare independence from England. Two days later, the actual Declaration of Independence was approved.